Greece Travel Advice

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Introduction

So, where are you?

You’ve been looking at Greece travel advice and Greece packages for weeks now. You’re finally ready to book your Greek vacation, but you don’t know if it’s worth buying travel insurance. 

There’s no national travel health network here in the UK, but you should always check with Travel Aware from the FCDO before you travel in case restrictions have changed.

So, should you buy travel insurance?

We’ll answer that question with a resounding “yes” – Let’s explore why we recommend this for Greece travellers and provide some tips on how to save money on your greek holidays!

Searching for summer holiday deals often begins with your bookings departure airport destination or internet searches by a particular registered address. Here we will go over what you should concentrate on before flying out.

How Covid 19 has affected travel to Greece?

Greece has been named as one of the countries now being taken off of the UK’s red list and is now accepting people into their borders for non-essential reasons. For up to date coronavirus travel guidance check the government website LINK HERE so you will have the most relevant information.

What are the entry requirements for Greece?

If you are visiting the Greek islands and wish to start your holiday without needing to quarantine you will have to do one of the following:

  • Show proof of a negative PCR test. You will need to be able to show an in date medical certificate to confirm you have not tested positive 72 hours before the time of your flight. You can also show an EU Covid certificate as proof.
  • Show proof of vaccination. You will need your vaccination certificate with you to prove this. It is reccomended to bring multiple copies to in case you lose them, you may be required to show this at multiple stages in your trip to prove your vaccination status with an acceptable form. Your medical certificate showing this must be correct and up to date. 
  • You may also be asked to show a passenger locator form online before arrival in Greece. 
  • While you do not need visas British citizens should double check they have all the paperwork as immigration is likely to be less flexible now that the UK is outside the EU.
  • Test positive no less than 30 days prior to the date of travel and no more than 180 days. this can be done by showing a positive PCR molecular or an antigen test performed by an authorised laboratory. You will of course need a valid certificate confirming this. You may be asked to have your antigen test result performed upon arrival if you don’t have sufficient evidence.

What if you don’t have the required documents required for Covid 19 travel?

Failure to show any of these will mean, due to coronavirus travel guidance the airport will have to refuse entry. Some passengers may be taken for a random antigen test regardless of their current Covid 19 status when they enter Greece. 

If you refuse to show the full details asked for you may be denied entry by Greek authorities. Of course, make sure all of your passport and visa information is correct and up to date before travelling or you run the risk of being turned away. 

You may also be asked to take a Covid 19 test upon arrival if you have insufficient evidence.

You should also check with your travel provider that you have acceptable vaccines from an authorized laboratory or you may have to take a covid 19 test to gain access to the country.

How children are affected by Covid 19 guidelines?

You should also search child ages and how they affect the guidelines as children aged 12 and under are often exempt or subject to altered guidelines. You should monitor the FCDO travel advice to make sure you are keeping to the current rules set out for your children.

You will of course be required to show a valid passport and visa information, make sure to check that you have an up to date passport before travelling.

How to stay up to date with Covid 19 travel information?

You should also read current travel health news around the time of your holiday as well as when booking if you wish to stay healthy abroad. Up to date advice could save you going through a lot of extra hustle so make sure you read what the UK government recommends before flying out. 

You should read the comprehensive travel guides on the government website to understand local laws and understand current travel health news to stay healthy abroad. FCDO travel advice should be monitored leading up to your trip for any new information.

What do I need upon arrival to Greece?

When travelling to and from Greece you will be expected to have completed a passenger locator for or you could risk not being allowed to stay in the country or given a £500 fine. You should have completed your passenger locator form before you entered the country.

When you enter Greece the Greece travel authorities reserve the right to fine you if you are breaking their covid guidelines or local laws and you could potentially be sent to greek courts to resolve the issue. You should read the UK and Greece travel advice before you book your holiday to assure you keep to the correct rules and stay healthy abroad.

For up to date travel advice and information on how to stay healthy abroad you should visit Travel Aware for a comprehensive travel guide. You can also find Coronavirus travel guidance on the Government website, this is also regularly updated and will include local laws you may need to keep in mind over your trip.

What if I test positive for Covid 19 while in Greece?

To follow the coronavirus travel advice set out by the Greek authorities you will be expected to self isolate in your hotel room if you test positive. You will also be required to inform your accommodation provider. You are required to quarantine for 10 days and can leave your room after 3 days of being symptomless. 

You will only be permitted to stay in your hotel providing it is a 4 or 5 star location and provides the service of quarantine rooms as informed to the Civil Protection authorities.

What is a Global health insurance card?

If you apply for a Global health insurance card you will be entitled to emergency medical treatment to the same level as Greek nationals in the event anything went wrong. 

Medical Insurance is advised to give you a bit more peace of mind when booking a holiday to mainland Greece. Lots can go wrong on a holiday and you should make sure you are prepared for any unexpected changes and will act as financial protection for anything that could come your way.

It’s important you check the up to date advice listed on the government website at the time of your trip.

Do I need travel insurance?

While travel insurance is not a necessity for you to travel it is highly advised you do purchase some cover to give you peace of mind while away. At Emerald Life, we offer a broad range of cover for travel insurance and we can tailor our policies to suit your needs. 

If you purchase an annual policy you will have the option to keep your hotel departure date flexible however it will need to be within a 31 day period.

You will be required to state any ongoing medical treatment you may be receiving to get you an accurate quote. We can provide medical repatriation if you are in severe condition or dead. medical repatriation is rarely done when someone is sick as it could be more damaging to the person heath 

If you require urgent medical attention and need to go to a private hospital you will also be covered however this must be urgent for your health. Non-urgent treatment like cosmetic work will not be covered. Medical insurance can save you from a large unexpected payment so it’s advisable to purchase some for your travels.

To receive the same hospital privileges as Greece residents, you will have to check if your EHIC remains valid or you will need to apply for a GHIC. The national travel health network and the FCDO travel advice recommend you do this as failure to do so could be your insurance not being paid out as you should have an EHIC or GHIC when travelling.

If you are looking for insurance for your trip why not consider Emerald Life, an award-winning insurance provider. We offer policies that suit your needs and by clicking here you can receive your quote in minutes.

Is Greece safe?

Greece is generally seen as one of the more safe holiday destinations. The Greek State and Greek Ministry have opened borders to most of the European Union and you are now allowed to travel for non-touristic purposes. You are advised to take sensible precautions while in Greece like following FCDO travel advice and following general safety rules like not travelling by yourself late at night.

Some good travel advice to follow is to consider looking for a guests group booking search as it may be offered cheaper from the world’s leading travel companies and will provide you with better security in numbers. Some providers may offer you the flight-inclusive holidays package which can also be booked with deals tailored for larger groups. 

For added safety to your trip, you may want to consider purchasing Greece travel insurance, at Emerald life we can offer British citizens individual policies to suit their needs. We offer comprehensive trip insurance that can be discounted for single-parent families and we can take in factors like your child ages. If you want to receive a quote just a few clicks away then Click here.

Conclusion

So, is Greece safe? That’s hard to say. It depends on where you are and what your travel plans look like. If you’re travelling there without a plan (or with one that has changed), then it’s probably not the best idea to go at all or be very careful about where you visit and what time of day it is. Pay attention to relevant travel advice through the buildup to your holiday.

When you’re planning a trip to Greece, it’s important to consider insurance. Many people may not think about the need for this type of coverage until they reach their destination and find themselves in an emergency medical or legal situation which is why we recommend purchasing our insurance before your departure date.

We offer affordable international health care plans that can cover everything from lost luggage and delayed flights to medical emergencies abroad. In addition, Our team at Emerald Life will be happy to answer any questions about how these policies work or help advise on adding them to your trip today.

Article summary: insurance for Greek travel/EU covid certificate/visit health forms/public v private hospitals

Greece travel advice – FAQs

What if I test positive for Covid 19 while in Greece?

To follow the coronavirus travel advice set out by the Greek government you will be expected to do self-isolation in your hotel room if you test positive. You will also be required to inform your accommodation provider. You are required to quarantine for 10 days and can leave your room after 3 days of being symptomless. 
You will only be permitted to stay in your hotel providing it is a 4 or 5 star location and provides the service of quarantine rooms as informed to the Civil Protection authorities.

What are the entry requirements for Greece?

If you are visiting the Greek islands and wish to start your holiday without needing to quarantine you will have to do one of the following:

Show proof of a negative PCR test. You will need to be able to show an in date medical certificate to confirm you have not tested positive 72 hours before the time of your flight. You can also show an EU digital Covid certificate as proof.

Show proof of vaccination. You will need your vaccination certificate with you to prove this. It is recommended to bring multiple copies in case you lose them, you may be required to show this at multiple stages in your trip to prove your vaccination status with an acceptable form. Your medical certificate confirming this must be correct and up to date. 

You may also be asked to show a passenger locator form online before arrival in Greece. 

Test positive no less than 30 days prior to the date of travel and no more than 180 days. this can be done by showing a positive PCR test or an antigen test performed by an authorised laboratory. You will of course need a valid certificate confirming this. You may be asked to have your antigen test performed upon arrival if you don’t have sufficient evidence.